Easy Scarf Knitting Patterns
Everyone needs to start somewhere when they learn how to knit and a scarf is usually the first stop along the way. Having just learned how to knit in the past couple of years, I know the importance of being able to find easy scarf knitting patterns, especially free knitting patterns.
Making a knit scarf is a great way to start to learn about the basic knitting stitches, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you are confident with these foundation stitches, you can move onto more complicated stitches and try new knitting techniques like lace knitting or cable knitting.
No matter what your knitting skill level, there’s a scarf pattern for everyone from the beginner knitter all the way up to the advanced knitter who’s looking for a quick and easy knit project.
Below you’ll find tons of fun and easy knitting patterns that are perfect for the various seasons – some thick and cozy and other scarf patterns are light and airy. These free knit scarf patterns have what you need to get working on your knitting skills and won’t break the bank.
What is the best knitting stitch for a scarf?
If you’re new to knitting, the best knit stitch is something that’s going to keep things simple for you. The very best option for the beginner knitter is the stockinette stitch. If you have some basic knitting knowledge, then you might want to use a more basic knit stitch like the garter stitch, seed stitch or rib stitch. Finally, if you’re really looking to level up your knitting game, you can be more adventurous with knitting stitches like the basket weave stitch or the raspberry stitch.
Hopefully you’ve picked out your free scarf knitting pattern. Grab your pattern instructions, yarn, needles, and stitch markers and let’s get going. Happy Knitting!
Easy Mistake Stitch Scarf
If you know how to knit and purl you can make this scarf! Mistake Stitch creates a deep and lofty rib that looks like so much more work than it actually is. The beauty of this pattern is that it can be knit out of any size yarn with just a little bit of work! The mistake rib is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 3 stitches.
Honeycombs Summer Easy Scarf Knitting Pattern
Here’s an easy scarf knitting pattern that’s perfect to wear in warmer Spring or Fall weather. Of course, it could be used in the winter too, but the open stitch-work makes it suitable for spring and summer. The mesh that is created in this knitting project is really easy to knit and it creates a really beautiful texture. The other nice thing about this project is that it doesn’t use a whole lot of yarn. This free knit pattern uses extra worsted weight yarn and is a great stash buster!
Cozy Scarf Knitting Pattern
Beginner knitters will love this simple to knit scarf knitting pattern and all knitters will love the simplicity of a quick and easy knitting project. Since you’ll be using simple knit and purl stitches, bulky yarn, and big needles this easy scarf pattern will be done in no time. It’s also very versatile because you can easily adjust the width of the scarf. It won’t affect the knit stitch pattern and it’ll give you more choices for sizing your knitted scarf.
Christian’s Scarf Knitting Pattern
Christian’s Scarf was originally knitted in worsted weight yarn, however, it can be knitted in other yarn weights as well. The stitch pattern is very simple but has enough variation to make it an enjoyable knit.
Infinity Scarf Knitting Pattern For Beginners
This infinity scarf pattern is perfect for beginners since it’s made up entirely of knits and purls. With just these two stitches, you can knit up a squishy, textured scarf using the mistake rib stitch. This is a favorite knit stitch because, despite looking complicated, it’s actually deceptively easy to knit! Best of all, this infinity scarf is knit up in super bulky weight yarn, making it a very quick knit.
Herringbone Stitch Scarf Knitting Pattern
Herringbone is a beautiful, classic stitch that is sometimes overlooked in knitting. It knits up quickly on bigger needles and produces a thick, fluffy fabric. This herringbone knit scarf works well with winter coats, fall sweaters, and would look lovely both dressed up or worn casually. Any heather, hand-dyed, or dynamic color of yarn would look amazing in this stitch.
Easy Hooded Scarf Free Knitting Pattern
This easy hooded scarf knitting pattern is perfect for beginners because the hood is knit flat. It’s seamed in the back and then sewn on to the scarf. This hooded scarf is so cozy! It will keep you warm during cold fall and winter nights. It’s the kind of knit accessory you won’t want to take off!
Bandana Cowl Knitting Pattern
The bandana is a sassy, casual knit cowl pattern that suggests that the wearer possesses an innate stylishness. It’s the perfect accessory for those cool mornings when you’ve hit snooze a few too many times and need to turn “thrown–together–in–a–rush” into “casually glamorous”. This knit cowl uses approximately 100 – 130 yards and would be stunning made out of many yarns.
The Lattice Scarf Knitting Pattern
Here’s a light and airy knit scarf that’s knit using the lattice stitch. It’s made using a super bulky yarn and large knitting needles so it knits up really quickly. There’s also a wonderful video knitting tutorial with this scarf pattern as well, making it so easy to follow along.
Waffle Knit Scarf Pattern
The waffle knit scarf pattern is very simple, making this a great project to work on in front of the TV. All you need to do is get past the first 4 rows, and then just worry about not making it too long! The waffle-knit pattern adds so much texture to the already super tactile Vel-Luxe yarn, and the double strands give it even more loft. It’ll be such a joy to wrap this around your neck!
Beginner Fisherman’s Rib Knit Scarf
This scarf knits up fast in bulky yarn, is simple enough that even a brand new beginner can knit it, and the density of the fabric makes it light enough to wear now, but wrap it double and its thermal properties activate! It’s also 100% reversible.
The Longbourn Scarf Knitting Pattern
This knit scarf pattern is started off by holding two strands of the yarn together. Since the majority of the scarf is worked in stockinette stitch, a light ribbing is added at the bottom to help prevent the scarf ends from curling. As you can see, this scarf is made extra wide since we knew the sides of the scarf would also curl due to the inherent nature of the stockinette stitch. As a reminder, stockinette is worked by knitting all the stitches of one row, and then purling all the stitches of the subsequent row.
Cozy Ribbed Scarf Pattern
This cozy ribbed knit scarf pattern is made using a simple 2×2 rib stitch using two skeins of chunky alpaca yarn. It knits up quickly and makes a wonderful gift to give to someone special.
ZickZack Knit Scarf Pattern
An impressive yet easy to knit scarf in the style of a great Italian designer. The chevrons are knitted using single increases and decreases, so there will be no knots in your fingers from having to knit tricky double declines, and no double increases where the stitches get tight and difficult to work with.
The Wolkig Knit Cowl Pattern
The Wolkig knit cowl is a twisted cowl and has extra volume due to strategically worked decreases and increases, so it can be stretched a little to fit comfortably over your head when putting it on. Stretched in the other direction (lengthwise), it will fit snugly around your neck without leaving any gaps where the cold wind might sneak in. The best thing is this: Wolkig (named after the German word for “cloudy”) has only one line of knit pattern. If you feel like it, you can use more yarn and work the cowl longer, so it doubles as a very cozy, cloudy tube scarf.
No-Purl Ribbed Knit Scarf Pattern
It’s a purl-less rib! Yes, that’s right, a knit rib created without a single purl stitch. Lots of knitters count the Cartridge Belt Rib stitch among their favorite knit stitch patterns. This robust rib stitch produces prominent columns of elongated knit stitches separated by broad valleys of dense texture. Outrageously cozy, nothing feels better on a cold day!
Clapotis Knit Scarf Pattern
This elegant knit scarf is knit on the bias so the variegated yarn makes diagonal stripes and stitches are carefully dropped to make a pattern in the opposite direction. This creates a scarf which tends to be a little more of a parallelogram than a rectangle. Instructions are included at the end of the knitting pattern to modify it to create a knit store.
Big Knit Scarf Pattern
This half fisherman rib knit scarf turns out quite beautiful and it works up quickly too even though it’s big. Many knit scarves measure around 60 inches long, but this one is right around 90 inches long and 10 inches wide! It’s super big and chunky, but it’s an easy knitting pattern to modify and make the scarf into any size you’d like. It makes the coolest looking knit fabric too. Both sides of the scarf are beautiful and each has a slightly different look.
Seed Stitch Scarf Pattern
Looking for an elegant scarf that is suitable for anyone of any age? Look no further! This gorgeous seed stitch scarf knitting pattern is perfect for beginners and features a beautifully textured seed stitch design. Perfect for men, women, and kids!
Pattern via Posh Patterns Blog
Birch Trees Scarf
A simple lace knit scarf with five panels of branching pattern repeats and a moss stitch edging border. Knitting skills you will need: cast on, cast off, knit two stitches together, bring the yarn forward, knit through the back of the loop.
Free Knit Scarf Pattern
A great pattern for beginning knitters (and experienced ones, too). It’s the perfect combination of simple knit stitches and luxurious yarn. It’s made using garter and stockinette stitch sections and is worked with multiple strands of yarn held together.
Scandinavian Scarf Free Knitting Pattern
The design of this infinity scarf is inspired by cozy, Nordic knits and features modern and bold snowflakes and “flurry” accents. It’s warm, warm, warm and you can even line it with fleece to make it extra cozy and professional looking. To make this scarf pattern, you’ll start off by casting on and joining to knit in the round. From there, you will work a simple rib stitch and then get into the colorwork pattern. It’s really simple to follow the chart as you knit each round.
The Arbor Knitting Pattern – Knit Pocket Scarf
Knit with a lovely ribbed design that uses basic knits and purls, and clean edges by using the special chained edge technique. With this technique, you work the first and last stitch of each right and wrong side row in a special manner. Made with tassels but you can leave the scarf without fringe if you wanted.
Snowbird Waffle Knit Scarf – Free Knitting Pattern
The knit pattern itself is very simple, making this a great project to work on in front of the TV. You just need to hold together two strands of Lion Brand Vel-Luxe to knit this type of scarf. Vel-luxe is a medium weight 4, or worsted weight yarn, and as such, it might seem a little thin when knit on its own. However, holding 2 strands together really gives it a chunky, extra-squishy feel.
Affirmations Scarf Knitting Pattern
The Affirmations Scarf is a fast knit made in Lion Brand Hometown USA that has a simple four-row lace repeat that appears much more intricate than it is. Due to the speediness of the pattern, this also makes for an excellent last-minute present. It’s an easy-level pattern and the techniques involved are the knit stitch, purl stitch, yarn over, slipping stitches, and the s2kp centered double decrease. The repeats are easy to memorize and the resulting product is stunning.
So, have you picked the first scarf you want to knit yet? Or did I simply confuse you with so many great options? My suggestion is to make a list and then start with whichever scarf you already have the yarn and knitting needles to make.
For those that prefer a video tutorial to learn how to make a baby blanket, here are a few I’d recommend:
- How to Knit a Scarf – No Experience Needed
- Fisherman’s Rib Free Knit Scarf Pattern for Beginners
- Infinity Scarf Knit Pattern for Beginners – Step-by-step Tutorial
- Harry Potter Scarf Knitting Pattern (for Muggles)
- How to Knit a Seed Stitch Cowl or Scarf with Any Yarn
